Severe weather swept across Cyprus on Saturday, as heavy rain, hail, gale force winds, and lightning caused widespread flooding, structural damage, and flight diversions.
Civil Defence activated the CY-Alert emergency notification system island-wide at 12:15 p.m., sending warning text messages to mobile phones across Cyprus. Authorities urged residents to limit their movements, remain in safe places, and refrain from attempting to cross flooded roads or swollen streams.
In the Kato Drys area of Larnaca district, a 45-year-old Sri Lankan man temporarily lost consciousness when a lightning bolt struck nearby. He was outdoors with two other people near the chapel of Timios Prodromos. Emergency services transported him to Larnaca General Hospital, where doctors treated him for minor burns on his shoulder and reported that he was in good condition.
River flooding and infrastructure damage
In Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, the Fire Service answered dozens of call-outs to handle fallen trees, dislodged objects, power line failures, and fires triggered by lightning strikes.
The Pedieos river burst its banks in Strovolos, submerging a local bridge and forcing police to close the route. Strovolos Municipality issued a public directive asking drivers to use alternative routes to navigate around the inundated area.
In the neighboring suburb of Lakatamia, floodwaters rose to door level, leaving a parked vehicle submerged in deep mud. Dangerous conditions also affected major highways across Cyprus, where floodwaters, tree branches, and scattered debris blocked lanes, while landslides were reported in mountainous districts.
Lightning strikes ignite fires and cut power
Intense electrical activity accompanied the storm, sparking fires and causing widespread failures across the electrical grid.
In Kokkinotrimithia, lightning hit a wooden utility pole belonging to the Electricity Authority of Cyprus. The strike sparked a blaze inside a fenced compound containing disused vehicles, home appliances, and building materials, requiring five fire engines to bring the flames under control.
A separate forest fire broke out at Kyparissia forest in the Kapsala area of Limassol district after lightning struck a tree. More than 13 forest firefighters deployed to the scene alongside three fire engines to contain the outbreak.
In Avgorou, located in Famagusta district, lightning struck a warehouse adjacent to a residential home, igniting a fire. No injuries were reported, but the strike disrupted electrical power to the surrounding area for roughly three hours.
The Electricity Authority of Cyprus reported at least 40 medium-voltage network failures by midday, alongside numerous localized low-voltage outages affecting communities in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Famagusta, and Paphos. Repair crews were mobilized on high alert, though work in areas with active lightning was temporarily suspended for worker safety.
Boats sink off Cape Greco and flights diverted
Severe marine conditions created further hazards around the coastline, where waterspouts were recorded in the seas off Larnaca and Ayia Napa. The Department of Meteorology noted that land-based tornadoes could not be ruled out.
Off Cape Greco, three boats sank during the storm, with initial reports indicating that one person died in the incident.
In Paphos, severe hail and strong winds inflicted heavy damage on agricultural greenhouses and rooftop photovoltaic solar panel installations, while gale force gusts swept beach umbrellas and sunbeds off the shore and downed trees onto roads.
In Pachna, powerful winds ripped the roof off a livestock farm shed and collapsed several perimeter walls, though no injuries occurred.
Air travel experienced major disruption as 11 incoming flights were forced to divert to alternative airports. 10 of the diverted planes were scheduled to land at Larnaca Airport, while one was bound for Paphos. Aircraft were redirected to Paphos Airport, Rhodes, and Lebanon. No flight cancellations were recorded, though departing flights experienced minor delays.
Orange weather warning and temperature drop
The Department of Meteorology kept an orange weather warning in effect from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., warning of rainfall rates between 55 and 70 millimetres per hour, large hail, and destructive wind gusts.
Temperatures across the island plunged by approximately 10 degrees Celsius below seasonal norms. Inland areas recorded maximum temperatures of 27 degrees Celsius, compared to the late August average of 36 to 37 degrees.
Weather officials stated that the storm system was gradually moving eastward and expected to weaken. Clearer conditions are forecast for tomorrow, although isolated rain showers or localized thunderstorms remain possible in mountain areas and south of the Troodos range.
